Question for the Cap 'n' Balling Ladies and Gentlemen

[John25]

Almost forgot - Durrr!

Some swear by semolina as a filler on top of the powder.

[Sim G]

Did loads of experimenting with B/P revolvers when we lost cartridge handguns. Over powder wad and a tight ball. Grease, semolena, ground rice or whatever, as well as unburnt powder flying down the barrel on either side of a ball cannot be condusive to accuracy!

I have an article in a book somewhere, when Jeff Cooper and some other shooters in California before IPSC, shot B/P revolvers out to 300 yards with surprising results!

[John25]

Like I said, tight balls are best.

[Tower75]

Did loads of experimenting with B/P revolvers when we lost cartridge handguns. Over powder wad and a tight ball. Grease, semolena, ground rice or whatever, as well as unburnt powder flying down the barrel on either side of a ball cannot be condusive to accuracy!

I have an article in a book somewhere, when Jeff Cooper and some other shooters in California before IPSC, shot B/P revolvers out to 300 yards with surprising results!

300 yards!? :G ... with a BP revolver? Do you know if it was modified in anyway, or an off-the-shelf job?

[Tower75]

dromia - going back to beeswax wads, would the type used in candle making be alright to use do you think? I was thinking - they come in sheets and should be easy to punch into .44cal circles.

Regards
T

[dromia]

That should be fine.

I like to use beekeeping foundation sheets, just because that was what I knew about, having kept bees, when I was looking for sheets for handloading.

I get the stuff from here:

https://secure.thorne.co.uk/cgi-bin/cgi ... =221770718

[Tower75]

That should be fine.

I like to use beekeeping foundation sheets, just because that was what I knew about, having kept bees, when I was looking for sheets for handloading.

I get the stuff from here:

https://secure.thorne.co.uk/cgi-bin/cgi ... =221770718

Thanks

[dromia]

You are welcome, let us know how you get on.

[Tower75]

Just wanted to say thanks. I got some wax from your link. I took the .44 out today for it's first "proper" range visit.

I discount firing two cylinders at a 50 yard target "just to see what happens" as a "proper" visit to the range

I took it to my club's 25 yard range. I cut some wax wads from the beeswax sheets I ordered. SO much easier and quicker then smearing grease or lard over the chamber mouths - plus, as an added "cool factor", the wax glows when you fire - that's right, got me my own tracer rounds.

It took me one shot to find the sweet-point of where to aim, after that I was happily peppering the board all day. I wouldn't say I was grouping, but every shot was a "hit", so I got the Indian/Rebel/Yanky/Russian [insert historical enemy]

However, the shot of the day was on a small empty 500ml bottle of water. I placed the bottle on the target's wooden stand, and aimed low, very low, because I seemed to be shooting high all day. Squeezed the trigger and blew the thing away - from 25 yards with a cap 'n' ball revolver. Check out my mad cowboy skills :lol:

I had no right at all to hit the thing - when I aimed at the paper-target, always keeping my aiming point constant, the revolver was spitting balls in a scattered pattern - there's no logical explanation as to how I could put a ball through a 500ml bottle at 25 yards with the first shot.

Remember - I missed the 1997 ban, I never got to play with handguns, so I'm learning now. I was amazed a handgun could do that.

I think I'll keep her.

Regards
T

[ovenpaa]

Sounds like a good days shooting, time to post a picture of it?